Weighing, bag opening, and filling apparatus



Jan. 25, 1944. L. J. NOWAK, JR

, BAG OPENING, AND FILLING APPARATUS WEIGHING 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12

[EON J A/owA/r JR.

Jan. 25, 1944. J NQWAKY JR 2,340,225

WEIGHING, BAG OPENING, AND FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEO/v J NOWAK JR.

Jan. 25, 1944. L. .1. NOWAK, JR

WEIGHING, BAG OPENING, AND FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v Jan. 25, 1944. J. NOWAK, JR 2,340,225

WEIGHING, BAG OPENING, AND FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1938 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q WW 1944. L. J. NOWAK, JR 2,340,225

WEIGHING, BAG OPENING, AND FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1938 5 SheetsSheet 5 Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEIGHING, BAG OPENING, AND FILLING APPARATUS Leon J. Nowak, In, Chicago, 111.

Application December 12,1938, Serial No. 245,120

8 Claims. (Cl. 228-49) The present invention relates-in general to a weighing, bag or container opening and filling apparatus; and is primarily concerned with improvements in the means for carrying out the various stages of the operation of the apparatus in such manner as to effect a more efficient and reliable apparatus for such purpose.

The invention further contemplates an improved arrangement for telescoping a bag over bag opening fingers in such a way as to enable the use of bags constructed of relatively light materials. That is, an arrangement wherein the forces acting to telescope the bag and fingers are applied in such a manner as to obviate crumpling of the bag wall.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for coordinating the weighing mechanism and the discharge of material therefrom into a bag or container in such manner that the material will not be discharged unless the proper amount of material has first been weighed and the container is in proper filling position to receive the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag magazine of improved construction; novel means for moving the magazine in a predetermined path during the operation of the apparatus; and improved mechanism for controlling the starting and stopping of the magazine movements in a predetermined relation to the operation of the other parts of the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described embodying bag opening fingers of improved construction.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, this invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention, and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the bag supply and bag opening portions of apparatus embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the same;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the base portion of the apparatus, showing the manner in which the bag magazine is mounted and mechanism for swinging and shifting the bag magazine;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the mechanism for telescoping a bag and bag opening fingers, and showing the supporting and actuating mechanism for the bag opening fingers;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken substantially on line V--V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of the mechanism for telescoping a bag over the .bag opening fingers;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the weighing mechanism and means for controlling the discharge of material therefrom; and

Figures 8, 9, and 10 are enlarged fragmentary side views of the hopper and motor control mechanism, showing the various positions of the parts during the operation of the apparatus.

As shown on the drawings:

In referring to the drawings, which illustrate the chosen embodiment of the present invention, it will be noted that the apparatus comprises a supporting base structure 15 provided with a pair of upstanding standards l6-l6. Adjacent the top portion of the standards there is secured thereon a feed hopper II. This hopper is supported on a, platform 18 at the lowermost end of the hopper, this platform having a laterally extending bearing l9 provided with suitable apertures for receiving the standards. The hearing I! may be rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the standards.

Supported on the under side of the platform l8 adjacent the throat of the hopper are four bifurcated bearing brackets 20, each of these brackets serving as a pivotal support for a, pivot block 2|. A pendant finger 22 is secured to each pivot block. Each block also has a laterally extending arm 23 which carries a spherical member 24 at its outermost end. As shown by dotted lines in Figure 5, the machine includes two pairs of fingers 22.

Below the stationary platform l8, there is disposed a frame structure 25 which is supported for vertical movements on the standards l6l6 by means of a suitable bearing 26. This frame carries a pair of laterally disposed rails 21 suitably supported on its upper side inspaced relation thereto. The rails cooperate with the frame structure to pivotally anchor the spherical members 24 so that, when the frame 25 is raised and lowered, the arms 23 will be swung about their pivots and the pendant fingers 22 moved into converged and non-converged relationship. It will thus be evident that the frame structure 25, together with the rails 21, constitute an actuator for operating the fingers 22.

As shown in Figures land 6, it will be rloted that the fingers 22 are arranged to operate in pairs, and that in each pair of fingers, one of the fingers is of shorter length than the other. The long finger in each case is provided with a recessed portion 28 adjacent its lowermost end. The shorter finger of the pair has its end beveled as shown at 29, thus enabling the fingers to interfit at their lowermost ends and facilitate their insertion into the open end of a bag or container 30 and the telescoping of the bag thereon.

Mechanism has been provided for telescoping an empty bag over the fingers 22 and automatically actuating the fingers to expand the bag sufficiently so that it will be supported upon the fingers while it is being filled. This mechanism will now be described.

Referring to Figures 1, 2,"and 3, it will be noted that a driving motor 3| is mounted upon the base I 5, this motor having a driving connection with a sprocket wheel 32 that is connected by a suitable chain 33 with a sprocket wheel 34 and a shaft 35 which is Journalled in a suitable bearing 38 projecting from a vertical wall 31 extending lengthwise'of the base on one side of the motor. The shaft 35 extends beyond the wall 31 and has fixed upon its outermost end a cam 38. Adjustably mounted in a slot 39 in the cam 38 is a crankpin 40 upon which a roller 4| is journalled.

Extending longitudinally along the wall 31 is a bag magazine 42 having its left hand end, as shown in Figure 1, provided with a bearing 43 in which a crankpin 44 is iournalled. This crankpin is connected to the lowermost end of a swingably mounted link 45 which is pivoted at its upper end on a pivot pin 45 mounted in a bearing 41 supported on an integrally formed pedestal portion 48 of the wall 31. Thus, the magazine is anchored at this end in such a way as to permit swinging movement of the magazine, as well as longitudinal shifting thereof. At its forward end, the magazine is provided with a plate member 49 supported on studs 50 in spaced parallel relation to the bottom of the magazine. This plate forms a bearing surface for coaction with the roller 4i for swinging the magazine about its pivoted end, when the cam 38 is rotated.

For controlling the longitudinal shifting movements of the magazine during its raising and lowering movements, there is provided a cam lever 5| that is pivoted at its lower end by a pivot pin. 52 Journalled in a bearing 53 mounted on the wall 31. This lever carries a roller 54 intermediate its ends for coaction with the cam surface of cam 38. The free end of the lever is connected by a link member 55 to a point intermediate the ends of link 45 by a suitable pivotal connection 56. A coiled spring 51, having one end connected to the wall 31 and its other end to the link 45, acts to shift the magazine to the right, as viewed in Figure l, and maintains the roller 54 in engagement with the cam surface of the cam 38.

The magazine may be constructed of sheet metal by bending a metal plate to provide a bottom 58 and parallel side walls 53. These side walls, it will be noted, are bevelled towards the pivotally supported end of the magazine, and, if desired, may have their upper marginal edges folded over and secured in lapped relation in any suitable manner, as by riveting, welding, or the like, as shown at 50 in Figure 3. The free end portion of the magazine is provided with an arcua'te false bottom 6| which cooperates with the side walls to form an arcuate chute 82, the normally disposed horizontal edges at the top of the chute being beaded, as shown at 63, and connected with the vertically disposed edges at the chute outlet by an arcuate beaded edge 64 conforming to the curvature of the false bottom. A U-shaped member 65 is secured, as by welding or other means, externally of the delivery end of the magazine so as to extend down the sides and across the bottom thereof.

The side walls of the magazine adjacent the arcuate beaded edges 6464 are interconnected by a bridging member 66 which is secured at its ends to the respective side walls and is carried between the side walls in'spaced relation to the beaded edges.

Spaced a short distance from the delivery end of the magazine are side braces 61 that are attached to the exterior surfaces of the side walls. Leaf springs 58 are attached to these braces and extend through long slots 69 cut in the side walls of the magazine. The leaf springs extend to the forward end of the magazine, where they are provided with inturned lips 10 for retaining bags at the delivery end of the chute. Adjustable screws 1| mounted in the sides of the U-shaped member 65 the inward deflection thereof as is apparent.

Although bags of various types of construction may be utilized with the apparatus of the present invention, it is contemplated that each bag will be of the type having a notch or cut out portion 12 at its open end in the adjacent side wall edge, and that the opposite edge will have a tie member 13 secured thereto, this tie member pro- Jecting beyond walls of the bag when the bag is folded into collapsed form.

The empty bags are confined in the chute 62 between the side walls thereof with the cut out or notch 12 disposed forwardly. It will be noted that the bags adjacent the charging end of the chute will be disposed in substantially horizontal position, and the bags are placed in the chute with their respective tie members extending over the beaded edges 54. At the delivery end of the chute, the bags are disposed in vertical position with their tie members riding on the beaded edges 64B4. The bags in the chute will tend to feed down by gravity due to their inherent weight, and the foremost bag at the delivery end of the chute will have its edges engaged by the inturned lips 10.

For applying additional pressure against the bags adjacent the delivery end of the magazine, there is provided a U-shaped member 14 having its arms 15 extending exteriorly along the side walls of the magazine, and its arm connecting portion pivoted adjacent the bottom of the magazine. Each arm 15 carries at its outermost end a pivoted pawl 16 which extends through an associated arcuate slot 11 into the interior of the bag chute. This pawl is limited in its movement in one direction and is resilently biased as by a spring 18 against movement in the opposite direction. With this construction, it will be evident that the member 14 may be swung counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, to bring the pawl to the upper end of the slot 11, the spring enabling movement of the pawl in this direction over the edges of the bags within the magazine. When the member 14 is released, the pawls 18 engage behind the edges of an adjacent bag, and due to the inherent weight of the member 14, pressure is applied against the bags at the delivery end of the chute. Movement of the memabut the leaf springs for adjusting ber I4 in a counter-clockwise direction to automatically reset the same is accomplished by an arm member I8 carried by the member I4, this arm member being arranged for engagement by the crank pin 40 during each rotation of the cam 39.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be noted that a rod 191s secured at its upper end to one of the bearings 26 of the actuator 25, and that the lower end of this'rod is secured to a. bearing member 80 slidably mounted on the adjacent standard I6. The bearing member carries an arm BI having a roller 92 journalled upon its outer end for engagement by a cam 83 rotatable with the shaft 35.

For augmenting the operation of telescoping a bag onto the fingers 22, there is cooperatively associated with the fingers a bag moving and holding mechanism. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, this mechanism comprises a shaft 04, which is journalled in a bearing mounted on a bearing bracket 96 secured to the standards I6 IS. The bearing 85 at one end is provided with a contracted portion 81, which forms a pivotal mounting for an idler bearing hanger 09. This hanger supports a bearing 89 in which there is journalled a shaft 90 having an idler gear 9I and sprocket wheel 92 secured thereto. Cooperating with the idler gear 9I is a gear 93 secured to the shaft 04. The sprocket wheel 92, as shown in Figure 6, is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 90 and is driven through a chain 94 from a sprocket wheel 95 on the shaft 35.

The other end of shaft 84 has connected thereto a crank arm 96 which serves as a support for a bag feeder frame 91 having spaced side walls 98 interconnected at one set of their ends by a segmental bridging portion 99. The side walls are provided with aligned apertures I00 for receiving the arm 96 therethrough. Mounted on the segmental portion 99 is a resilient covering which in this instance comprises a resilient backing member, such as sponge rubber IN. This backing member is retained in position by an outer covering I02 which may be of any suitable material, and in this case is of a harder rubber material. The outer covering may be secured along its ends by metallic anchor strips I03, which are clamped over the end margins of the covering and secured to the frame as by screws I04.

On the opposite side of the arm 96, from the segmental portion 99, the side walls of frame 91 project in triangularly shaped arms I05. These arms are connected by exteriorly disposed springs I06 to the arm 96, the arm 96 and arms I05 being respectively provided with anchor lugs I01 and I08 to which the ends of the spring are connected.

The springs I06 act to retain the bases of the arms I05 in abutting engagement with the arm 96, but enable resilient movement thereof away from the arm 96.

For shielding the bag feeding mechanism and preventing particles of the material being fed into the bags or containers from being deposited on its parts, an arcuate hood or shield I00 is arranged over the bag feeder frame. This hood is suitably supported and, as shown in the present instance in Figure 2, may be provided with a split clamping ring IOI' which may be disposed around the bearing 95 and clamped in position by a securing screw I02.

It has been found desirable to provide means for keeping the bag or container engaging surface I02 clean and free from material which might become deposited thereon during operation of the apparatus and prevent its efllcient and proper function in feeding the bag onto the bag opening fingers.

The surface I02 is cleaned by means of a suitable brush I03 removably supported on the hood I00 as by one or more removable clamps I04. It will be noted that the bristles of this brush extend into the path of rotation of the surface I02 and will wipe the surface each time it is rotated past the brush. Thus, the surface will be cleaned prior to its engagement with a bag and there will be no particles of material thereon to prevent or interfere with its proper operation.

The bag feeding mechanism just described is arranged, upon rotation, to engage the outer wall surface of a bag disposed on the fingers 22, and by virtue of the rotation of the feeder frame, the bag will be moved upwardly onto the fingers. It wil1 be observed that in this arrangement the forces, which are applied against the bag wall, are in such direction that there will be no tendency to crumple the bag wall, even though the bag be constructed of very light material. The eccentric mounting of the sprocket 92, together with the swinging movement of the idler hearing bracket 88. will result in the feeder frame being moved at variable speeds during the time it is in contact with the bag for a purpose which will later be explained. The feeder mechanism also operates during the feeding of the bag to support the bag.

The apparatus embodies a weighing mechanism for furnishing a weighed quantity of material to the bag when it is in proper filling position on the fingers 22. The weighing mechanism, as shown ni Figure 7, comprises a weighing container I09, which is supported by means of a suitable bracket IIO in association with the weight receiving end of a scale beam III of a scale mechanism of conventional construction. The upper end of container I09 is disposed to receive material from a chute II2 forming a part of any suitable mechanism for controlling the supply of material to the container I09, such for example as shown in my Patent 2,077,152 and as shown in my copending application Serial No. 178,687, filed December 8, 1937.

The lowermost end of container I09 is arranged to discharge material into the hopper H, the discharge of material from the container being controlled by a pivotally mounted door or gate I I3. This door is normally latched in closed position by means of a link II4 which is pivotally connected at one end to a lug I I5 on the door and at its other end is pivotally connected, as shown at I I6, to a sector disk or plate I I7 pivoted at IIB for swinging movement.

It will be noted that in the construction just described the pivotal connection H6 is arranged to move past a dead center position with reference to a center line connecting the pivot connection of the link with leg H5 and the pivot IIB, when the sector plate is moved to a position wherein the door II3 will close the lower end of the weighing container.

The door II3 may be unlatched by moving the sector plat II! in a counterclockwise direction through dead center. The weight of the plate I I1 is so disposed relative to its pivot point II8 as normally to move the plate I I1 to a door latching position in which the door H3 is latched or held in closed position.

For tripping the latching mechanism, a sole-.

noid ll is provided, this solenoid having an armature I20 that is adapted when the coil of the solenoid is energized, to engage a pin i2I on the sector disk or plate Ill and cause the disk or plate ill to be rotated in counterclockwise direction, thus releasing the door II3 which will open due to the weight of material in the container.

It will be evident that material should not be discharged into the hopper I 1 until a bag is in proper filling position, and the material should likewise not be discharged until the proper amount has been weighed.

Control of the dumping ordischarge of material from the container I08 is therefore made dependent upon the two conditions noted above, by providing a switch I22 having its contacts disposed in a conductor I20 connecting one side of the solenoid coil with one side of a source of electrical energy such as a battery I24. The other side of the electrical source is connected through a conductor I20 to the other side of the solenoid coil, this conductor having a switch I20 therein.

The switch I22 is so associated with the scale beam I I I that, when the scale beam is in balanced position as the result of weighing a predetermined amount of material in the container I09, the switch contacts will be closed. If the contacts of switch I20 are at this time in closed position, the solenoid IIO will be energized and the latch for the door II3 tripped, thus enabling discharge of material from the container I09 into the hopper II. It will be evident, however, that if the contacts of either the switch I22 or switch I20 are open, material will not be discharged.

The switch I26 is so arranged that its operation to contact closing position is dependent upon the positioning of a bag in proper filling position on the fingers 22 to receive the material. While this switch may be of any suitable construction, in the present instance it comprises a supporting bracket I21 connected at one end as by a collar I20 to one of the standards I6. The outer end of the bracket pivotally supports a member I20 having clips I30 adapted to removably support a mercury type of switch I3I of conven-- tional construction. Secured to the outer end of the bracket is an upwardly extending extension I32 to which one end of a spring I33 is anchored, the other end of this spring being connected to the member I29.

The spring I33 acts to bias the switch to ofif position. Mounted on the member I20 is an outwardly extending finger I34 which is disposed in the path of movement of a bag being telescoped on the fingers 22, and so arranged that, when the bag has been completely teiescoped on the fingers 22 and is in proper filling position, the finger I34 will be moved upwardly by virtue of its engagement by the upper end of the bag, whereupon the switch I3I will be moved to contact closing position.

For controlling the operation of the driving motor 3I, control mechanism is provided which will now be described. Referring to Figures 8, 9, and 10, a lever I35 is pivoted at one end as shown at I30 for swinging movement on a supporting bracket I3'I mounted on the supporting bearing I0 of platform I8. Swinging of the lever I30 about its pivot is accomplished by means of a connecting rod I38 having its upper end pivotally connected to the lever and its lowermost end connected to a lever I30 which is pivoted at I40 on the bearing 36. The outermost end of lever I30 carries a roller I H which is arranged to ride on the cam surface of an actuatingciun M2 mounted on the shaft 33. I

Upon the outermost end of lever M0 is a leaf spring I43, this spring being anchored at its lowermost end to the lever and having its free end arranged to engage a trip lever I44 having a downwardly hooked end I40. The trip lever I44 is secured to a shaft I40 Journalled in a bearing bracket support I41 mounted on the bearing ll of platform I3. 0n the same end of shaft I40 upon which the trip lever is mounted, there is also secured a disk I40 upon which a. mercury type switch I40 is mounted in suitable clip supports I00. Associated with the disk is an outwardly extending arm IOI provided with a. counterweight I02 at its outermost end which acts to rotate the shaft I40 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 8, 9, and 10.

Disposed on the opposite side of the bearing bracket I41 and connected to the other end of shaft I40 is a, right angularly disposed rod I03 extending on one side of the hopper I'I.

Supported on the exterior of the hopper I1 is a bearing bracket I04 containing aligned bearings I00 disposed on opposite sides of the hopper, these hearings forming a support for a shaft I00 Journ-alled therein and extending through the hopper. Interiorly of the hopper, the shaft I00 has a plate I0'I forming a vane disposed in the path of material during its travel from container I00 to the has being filled.

The plate I0'I is normally held in a position extending across the hopper I I by means of an arm I00 secured at one end to an end of shaft I00 and carrying at its other end a counterweight I00.

It will be noted that the rod I03 is of such length that when the shaft I40 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the weight I02, the outermost end margin of the rod I03 will engage the adjacent bearing to thus limit the rotative movement of shaft I40.

The associated end of shaft I00 has secured thereto a bent arm I00 which extends in a general direction substantially parallel to the plane of plate I01. This arm I00, it will be noted, will engage the rod I03 to move it downwardly away from the bearing I00, when the plate I01 is deflected downwardly by the passage of material through the hopper.

The contacts of the mercury switch I40 are connected in one side of a suitable electric supply oircuit IOI connected to the motor by conductors I02'and I03.

With the parts positioned as shown in Figure 8, the mercury switch I40 will be closed and the motor 3I will be operating. Movement of the cam I42 will swing the lever I30 upwardly to the dotted position shown in Figure 8 and cause partial rotation of the shaft I40 and connected parts to dotted line position. As a result of this partial rotation, the switch will open its contacts to stop the motor. The spring I43 is slightly flexed, but is prevented from disengaging from the trip lever I44 by its hooked end.

The motor will remain inoperative during the filling operation. Movement of material in the hopper I1 will deflect the plate I0'I to bring the arm I00 against the end of rod I03 which displaces it slightly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 9. This slight displacement of the rod I03 is sufllcient to disengage the free end of spring I43 from the trip lever, whereupon the spring I43 snaps to a position shown in Figure 9 in dotted lines. Y The arm I00 latches the rod I53 against movement in counterclockwise direction, as shown in Figure 10, and thus retains the switch I49 in 011" position so long as material continues to flow to the hopper. As soon as the flow of material in the hopper is discontinued, the weight I59 rotates the plate I51 to its normal position across the hopper and releases the rod I53 which may now move counterclockwise by virtue of the action of weight I52 until the rod abuts bearing I55 as shown in Figure 8. Thus the switch is restored to on position and the motor is again started.

As the motor continues to operate, the lever I35 continues in its upper swinging movement to an upward position determined by the throw of the cam I42. The face of this cam is so arranged that as the motor continues to operate the lever I95 will be swung to its lower limit before again starting upward movement. In moving to its lower limit, the free end of the spring I43 is again confined by the hook portion of trip lever I44, whereupon the above described sequence of operation will be repeated,

acts to increase the throw of the cam and moves the associated cam roller 82 upwardly. This upward movement of the cam roller operates to elevate the actuator for the fingers 22, these fingers being spread apart to open the bag and hold the bag while beihg filled. During the completion of the telescoping operation of the bag onto the fingers, and the spreading of the fingers to support the bag, the finger I34 is engaged by the upper edge of the bag and the switch I26 actuated to a position wherein its contacts are closed.

At this time it will be noted that the roller M has not quite reached its maximum elevating position for the magazine. Assuming that, during this portion of the operating cycle, the predetermined amount of material has been deposited in the weighing container I09 and that the scale beam II I is in balanced position closing the contacts of switch I22, then, when the contacts of switch I26 are closed as the result of the bag now being in proper filling position, the solenoid H9 is energized and the sector disk I I1 will be moved 7 by the solenoid armature I20 to unlatching posi- The operation or; the apparatus will now be described. Assuming that the driving motor 3I is operating and that the magazine 42 is in the full line position shown in Figure 1, the motor control switch mechanism will be in the position shown in Figure 8. As the cam 38 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Figure 1, the roller 4| acting on plate 49 will start elevating the magazine at a relatively slow rate. During this initial movement of the cam, the cam surface engaged by the roller 54 is withdrawn, whereupon the spring 5! acts on the lever 45 to shift the magazine to the right to substantially the dotted line position 42a.

During this movement of the magazine, the converged ends of fingers 22 will be moved into the open end of the foremost bag in the magazine through the notch I2 thereof.

This lateral shifting movement of the magazine, combined with the elevating movement thereof, acts to initially telescope the open end of the bag over the converged ends of the fingers 22, and as the elevating of the magazine continues, the bag feeding mechanism will have operated to carry the surface of the covering member I02 into engagement with the bag which is pressed thereby against the adjacent fingers 22. The surface of cam 38 acting on the roller 54 now gradually moves the lever 45 clockwise to move the discharge end of the magazine away from the fingers 22, and at the same time the roller 4I acting on the plate 49 continues to elevate the magazine. It will be noted that the elevating mechanism will elevate the magazine at a variable rate, and consequently the rotation of the bag feeding mechanism must act to move the bag upwardly on the fingers 22 at a corresponding ra e. magazine and the bag feeding mechanism is accomplished by disposing the sprocket wheel 92 in eccentric relation to the shaft 90 as previously described.

As the magazine continues to be elevated, the foremost bag is withdrawn past the inturned lips I0 so that the bag is now entirely supported by virtue of the pressure of the bag feeding mechanism covering I02 against the adjacent fingers 2.2. As the apparatus continues to operate, the bag is moved upwardly on the fingers until its upper edge is adjacent the finger I34.

At this time the cam 83 has moved to a position wherein an inclined surface I54 thereon Synchronizing of the movement of the tion, thus enabling the door I I3 to open and discharge the weighed material from the weighing container into the hopper II.

, As this material flows through the hopper, it moves the plate I51 downwardly, whereupon the spring I43 is released from the trip lever and the switch I49 latched in off position. The motor now stops, during which time the bag is'being filled. At the conclusion of the filling operation, the plate I5! is restored to normal position, the switch I49 automatically moves to on position to start the motor, and the resetting of the control mechanism takes place.

As the shaft 35 now continues to operate, the cam 83 reaches a position wherein a depressed portion I of the cam surface acts to lower the actuator for the fingers 22 by a slight amount, this being just enough to relieve the holding pressure of the fingers against the bag wall. The bag is then free to drop down to a delivery position adjacent the lower ends of standards I6-I6 onto a delivery platform I85 in front of a pusher plate I51 which may be supported on the end of a rocker arm IBIa having its lower end connected to a shaft I68 (Figure 2) which may be oscillated by a crank and link connection I69 with the shaft 35. Thus the movement of plate I 61 may be synchronized with the operation of the other parts of the machine in such away as to position the plate to the left of the delivery position of the bag while the bag is being filled. In this position of the plate, the magazine will not yet have been returned to its Figure 1 full line position. However, as the apparatus operates to return the magazine, the plate I51 will be moved to the right, as shown in Figure 1, and move the filled bag out of the Way.

As the motor continues to operate, the maga- I zine will be returned to the full line position shown in Figure 1, and the cycle will be repeated.

It should be noted that the cam 83 is of segmental shape and is adjustably secured to the back side of cam 38 by means of bolts I10 (Figure 2) in suitable slots III which permit the cam to be advanced or retarded in its operation of the actuator for expanding and converging the fingers 22.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides improved apparatus for weighing the material, opening a bag or container, and filling the container with the weighed material, wherein the bodies an improved arrangement for telescoping a bag over bag opening fingers in such a way as to enable-the use of bags constructed of roles tively light materials; which coordinates the weighing mechanism and the discharge oi! material therefrom into a bag or container insuch a manner that the material will not be discharged unless the proper amount material has first been weighed and the container is in proper filling position to receive the material; which utilizes an improved magazine for the bags and includes novel control for starting and stopping of the magazine movements in timed and predetermined relation to the operation of the other parts of the apparatus; and which also has bag opening fingers of improved construction.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles oi! this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the .patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope and spirit oi the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of pendant bag opening fingers, a magazine containing bags, means for shifting and elevating the magazine for initially entering the fingers in theopen end of a bag, mechanism laterally disposed oi. said fingers for pressing the bag toward the fingers for supporting the same and continuing to move the bag further onto the fingers as themagazine is further elevated, and means ior spreading the fingers for opening the bag and supporting it while the bag is being filled.-

2. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of converged bag opening fingers, means ior initially telescoping a bag and said fingers,.rotatable means engageable with the bag for completing the telescoping of said bag and fingers, and means for spreading said fingers to open the bag and hold it while being filled.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality oi converged bag opening fingers, means for initially telescoping a bag and said fingers, rotatable means engageable with the bag for completing the telescoping of said bag and fingers, means for spreading said fingers to open the bag and hold it while being filled, and means operative when the bag is substantially filled for slightly moving said fingers toward converging position to release said filled bag.

4. In apparatus 01' the class described, a pinrality of converged bag opening fingers, a bag magazine for delivering empty bags, means for moving said magazine to initially telescope a bag and said fingers, mechanism actuated in timed relation to the movement or said magazine for completing the telescoping of said bag and fingers and cooperating with said fingers to support the bag, and means for spreading the fingers to open the bag and hold it, while being filled, independently of said mechanism.

5. In an apparatus of the class described for opening a collapsed bag, aplurality oi! grouped fingers having tree adjacent ends adapted to enter the top end of a collapsed bag, means for relatively moving the'bag and fingers so as to dispose said free ends of the fingers inside said top end of the bag, means disposed laterally oi said fingers for pressing the bag toward the fingers and for moving the bag onto said fingers, and means for respectively moving the fingers from grouped to spread apart relation in engagement with the bag wall, the movement of said fingers being such as to open the bag in at least two directions disposed at an angle to each other.

6. apparatus oi! the character described, a plurality of pendant bag opening fingers, a magazine containing bags, means for shifting and elevating the magazine for initially entering the fingers in the open end of a bag, mechanism laterally disposed oi said fingers for pressing the bag toward the fingers for supporting the same and continuing to move the bag further onto the fingers as the magazine is further elevated, means for spreading the fingers ior opening the bag' and supporting it while the bag is being filled,

means for filling the opened bag, and control means operable by the opening and movement of said bag to a supported and opened position to effect operation of said filling means.

7. In an apparatus of the class described for opening a collapsed bag, a plurality of grouped fingers having free adjacent ends adapted to enter the top end of a collapsed bag, means for relatively moving the bag and fingers so as to dispose said free ends oi! the fingers inside said top end of the bag, swingably mounted means disposed laterally of said fingers for pressing the bag toward the fingers and for moving the bag onto said fingers, means for respectively moving the fingers from grouped to spread apart relation in engagement with the bag wall, the movement of said fingers being such as to open the bag in at least two directions disposed at an angle to each other, said laterally disposed pressing means being swingable to engage an outer side surface of the bag, and wiping means for engaging said pressing means as it is swung about its axis to remove from its pressing surface any particles of foreign matter accumulating thereon.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of converged bag opening fingers, a bag magazine for delivering empty bags, means for moving said magazine to initially telescope a bag and said fingers, mechanism actuated in timed relation to the movement of said magazine tor completing the telescoping of said bag and fingers and cooperating with said fingers to support the bag, means for spreading the fingers to open the bag and hold it, while being filled, iridependently of said mechanism, and means operable by the discharge 0! material in said bag to arrest further movement of said magazine during the filling operation.

LEON J. NOWAK, JR. 

